Robin van Persie scored twice as the Netherlands continued their World Cup preparations with a 2-1 win over Mexico, while France came from behind to beat Costa Rica 2-1.
Van Persie struck two excellent goals before half-time, but Mexico got a consolation in the second half. Javier Hernandez got their goal with 17 minutes remaining.
France’s uncertain pre-World Cup form, meanwhile, continued in Lens, as they fell behind to a Carlos Hernandez goal, and levelled through an own goal from Douglas Sequeira before a late goal from debutant substitute Mathieu Valbuena secured the win.
Mexico made nine changes from the side that was rather unfortunate to lose 3-1 to England on Monday, and struggled, at least initially, to recapture the fluency that had characterised their performance at Wembley.
The Netherlands dominated the early stages, and Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa had already made a fine save from Dirk Kuyt when Van Persie struck after 17 minutes.
Mexico had looked vulnerable against crosses on Monday, and the new-look defence was equally susceptible.
Rafael van der Vaart arced a looping pass from the left to the back post, where Van Persie judged the bouncing ball perfectly to slam past Ochoa.
As torrential rain in Freiburg made underfoot conditions difficult, Mexico began to assert themselves, although as against England, their approach play was pretty rather than penetrative.
Cuauhtemoc Blanco almost laid in Alberto Medina with a deft chip, but the Dutch always looked dangerous on the counter, with Van der Vaart an incisive, probing presence.
It was the right winger, Ibrahim Affelay, who set up the second three minutes before the break.
His long cross to the back post against found Van Persie unmarked, and this time he finished with a finely executed low volley.
That ball to the back post continued to cause Mexico problems, and Kuyt drove wide early in the second half having run untended on to a chipped diagonal from Van Persie.
Gradually, though, Mexico’s dominance began to yield chances.
Pablo Barrera, on as a half-time substitute, drew a diving save from Maarten Stekelenburg with a long-range drive.
With 17 minutes to go, a rapid exchange of passes created space for Barrera on the left, and when he crossed Hernandez headed it in.
Giovani dos Santos then had a fearsome drive tipped over by Stekelenburg, and Rafael Marquez went narrowly wide from a cleverly worked free-kick.
Carlos Vela had Mexico’s final chance, Stekelenburg saving his low free-kick down to his left to protect the Dutch lead.
Valbuena strikes
France, using their new 4-3-3 system, had all the early play, but fell behind on 11 minutes, as Hernandez capitalized on some poor defending to slide a weak shot past Steve Mandanda.
Yoann Gourcuff had a goal ruled out for offside, but France levelled after 22 minutes, as Franck Ribery’s cross was turned into his own net by Costa Rica defender Sequeira.
It was Costa Rica who had the better of what remained of the first half, though.
The Twente forward Bryan Ruiz posed a constant threat, and drew a fine save from Mandanda before heading against the bar.
France began the second half the better.
Gourcuff had a swerving long-range effort tipped over, Thierry Henry sidefooted just wide from Ribery’s slipped pass, then Gourcuff was again denied by Keylor Navas, plunging to his left.
Navas then made a stunning block from Sebastien Squillaci as Costa Rica struggled to clear a corner.
The pressure finally told seven minutes from time as a flurry of swift passes created space for Valbuena, a surprise inclusion in France’s 23-man squad for the World Cup, and he sent a dipping shot into the bottom-right corner.
